News Broadcasting
ESPN School Quiz 2002 concludes with a winner in DPS-Farakka
One of ESPN Star Sports’ most successful on ground initiatives to get closer to the younger generation – ESPN School Quiz 2002 – has just completed a hugely successful run. DPS Farakka walked off with the coveted trophy. DPS Farakka won both the first and the second National finals respectively to emerge All-India winners of the ESPN School Quiz 2002. The team from DPS Farakka walked away with a grand cash prize of Rs 500,000.
While this cash prize will be used by the school to improve the sporting facilities in the school, the team members Suvojit Chakraborty and Rahul Mukherjee will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from ESPN Star Sports in recognition of their quizzing talent. They will be flown to any major international sporting event of their choice from events featured on either ESPN or Star Sports!
In both the National finals DPS Farakka beat Loyola School from Trivandrum and Mt.St.Mary’s School from Delhi quite easily. In the first National final while Mt.St.Mary’s could muster a paltry 5-point tally, Loyola did not disturb the scorekeepers! In the second National final Mt.St.Mery’s scored 23 and Loyola scored 35.
Hosted by popular presenter Harsha Bhogle, The ESPN School Quiz 2002 showcased the best of sports quizzing talent from around the country. As many as 108 schools came through a tough selection process to feature on this unique TV show. To start with, over 2000 teams from 17 cities had to get past a written test. Cities and towns like Bhilai, Bhopal, Darjeeling, Dehradun, Farakka, Gangtok, Indore, Mangalore, Nasik, Siliguri, Shimla, Surat, Tezpur, Vijayawada and Udhagamandalam were represented for the first time. On-ground quizzes were also conducted in 6 cities in the search for the best.
The 27 top teams from each of the four zones – North, South, East and West – were selected for the final phase of ‘On-Air,’ quizzing, giving every one of the 216 students a chance to test their knowledge of sports against the best competition in the country.
Manu Sawhney, managing director, ESPN Software India Ltd, said: “We at ESPN Star Sports are committed to promoting sporting excellence in India and School Quiz 2002 further exemplifies our effort in this direction. This show provided a unique opportunity for the sports-loving students to pit their knowledge against the best talent across the country and bring pride and glory to their institution.”
Apart from the Grand First Prize, the other prizes were as follows —
The teams winning the National Semi Finals won Rs. 200,000 each (Team Prize)
Zonal Final Winners from each zone won a Trophy (Team Prize) Both team members of all the 12 Zonal Semi-Final Winners received an ESPN Kit each (Individual Prize)
Winners of the Preliminary Rounds from each zone won a Milo wristwatch (Individual Prize)
All participants will received ESPN Certificates Of Excellence
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
